So, I’ve got your attention with that title! Well, that is just one of the many poetic phrases I now hear on an almost daily basis. Others include ‘You F@#%ing bitching f@#%ing c#*ting bitch’, ‘F@#% you!’, ‘Suck my cock!’, and ‘Kiss my arse!’ And that’s all before the bell goes. It’s not personal. Apparently!
I’m mostly working as a drama teacher but the role does vary from day to day. A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to cover a class for the day. The testosterone in the class of 4 boys was clearly raging and 2 of the boys began to ask what you may call ‘inappropriate questions’. It began with ‘Miss, do you wear a bra?’, moved on swiftly to ‘But howcome your boobs are so big if you wear a bra?’ and descended from then on to ‘Were you attractive when you were younger?!’ Having answered all these one way or another, and refusing to be shocked, they then asked ‘Miss, do you finger yourself?’ I pointed out they’d gone too far. One of the boys then spent the rest of the afternoon with his eyes fixated firmly on my chest. He really couldn’t avert his gaze. I told him that I needed to speak to him and explained that his behaviour could be construed as sexual harassment and that he really ought to be careful in the future (using far less complex vocabulary than that, of course). He seemed suitably chastised and settled to do some work. A few minutes later he said ‘Miss, I know you said we wouldn’t speak about it any more because you’ve dealt with it but how is it harassment if I’m not touching - I thought it was only if you touched someone.’ Again, I duly gave an explanation. This was shortly followed by ‘Miss, I know we’re not meant to keep talking about it, but it’s just that we think you’re attractive’! I pointed out that, although it was very nice of him to say so, as he is half my age (he had found out earlier that day that I was not the 19 years old he thought I was), and as I’m his teacher and he’s my pupil, it really isn’t appropriate. Aaaah, bless. And so the day ended…
Not personal though!
Yesterday I got punched in the hands twice. Today I got punched in the arm and spat at. Also not personal. Apparently!
Actually, it genuinely isn’t personal. The principals of both schools generally receive the same torrent of abuse and questioning as us mere mortal class teachers. Some of these kids just have no idea of what’s appropriate and what’s not; others behave like that for effect. Of course, after a few days and the realisation that this is just the norm in schools for kids with emotional disturbances, behavioural difficulties and mild intellectual disbilities, all impact of these words has become completely lost on me and, therefore, those who are using them for effect are, in fact, having completely the opposite effect from the one they’re aiming for.
That said, I am enjoying the work, believe it or not! I have spent a lot of time in Croydon working with kids who struggle to control their emotions and this bunch are just a few rungs up the ladder. They are certainly challenging but most of them do have a much more endearing side and the breakthroughs, when they come, are all the more rewarding as a result. The staff at both schools are generally very supportive and I have met some great people who are also putting themselves voluntarily through the same daily routine.
And, I finish ridiculously early every day. The other day, one of the permanent staff saw me doing some work after school and said ‘Are you still here?’
‘Yes,’ I replied. ‘It’s only 3.20.’
‘But you’re only a casual.’
‘Yes,’ I said once again, ‘But it’s only twenty past three.’
He was genuinely surprised that I was still in the building 20 minutes after the bell had gone. Crazy.
Other than work, I don’t have very much to write about. We’ve had a few good nights out and it’s been great to see people as they’ve been passing through Sydney - Mel, who we met in India was here for a few short days and Emma Newton managed to get a trip here for a one night stop-over with work and it’s been great catching up with people. We’ve also had to say quite a few goodbyes over the past couple of weeks as nearly everyone we met here during our time in the hostels in Sydney in October and January have now, unfortunately, moved on to pastures new.
Oh, and I bought a keyboard - impulse buy when we popped into a music shop. I began to play the $22,000 digital grand in the showroom, but settled for a significantly cheaper Yamaha 5 octave keyboard! With all this extra time on my hands from coming home from work so early, I thought I could use it to spend my time a bit more constructively than watching the myriad of reality TV shows on Australian telly. I plan to have mastered the moonlight sonata by the time I leave Sydney - though there aren’t quite enough keys on the keyboard for me to play the whole piece acurately!
Well, we’re sorry we haven’t been updating things very regularly but, as you can see, we’re pretty much leading the same lives as we would if we were home - working by day, TV, DVDs and a few nights out in the evenings and at weekends - we’re just doing it on the other side of the world. Hope you’re all well. xxx
